LPT - Tell those that give you a gift card what you purchased.

Submitted by resjudicata1 t3_11bbw9f in LifeProTips

People like to hear follow-ups about their gifts. When you receive a a gift card from someone, they don't know what you might buy with it and it's essentially cash that disappears into oblivion. Instead, associate that gift with something (that hopefully is useful, nice, whatever). It is meaningful to the giver and also gives you another opportunity to thank them.

This LPT also applies to other gifts, but rather than saying what you purchased, tell the giver when or how you used their gift.

E.g. "I used the gift card to Old Navy and bought these lovely gloves that I've been wearing all winter!" or "I've been wearing the ugly sweater you got me and it saved me from getting hit by a car when someone yelled, 'hey, your sweater is ugly!'" /s/

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m1kesanders t1_j9x5f7k wrote

“Thanks for the Amazon gift card Greg, I used it for a drum of lube and a foot long dildo. Going to be a load of a night.”

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mgd1006 t1_j9xxu2h wrote

This just reminded me I have an ikea gift card lol.

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keepthetips t1_j9x2k7d wrote

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Boredandsleeps t1_j9x61kb wrote

I usually get gift cards for Walmart or Costco or even just some cash and I tell them right away that that money is going towards groceries and maybe a small highly sugary treat for my family lol

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resjudicata1 OP t1_j9x6w4m wrote

That's the thing, though. I often get gift cards to home depot or lowes, but then spend them on whatever crap, like pex to repair a broken pipe. People like hearing that it went toward "a splurg" that you normally wouldn't buy for yourself... like a "treat." So, I've bene trying to pick out a useful tool or something that I normally would have to try and justify, but now don't have to because of the gift card.

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Boredandsleeps t1_j9x9iw2 wrote

If I ever had gift cards for home Depot it would probably to towards plants lol My husband hates them but knows that it makes me happy so he tolerates it lol

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Calm-asutra t1_j9x8qaz wrote

Also note down the number of the gift card that you give. If they haven't used the remaining balance in over a year or two (before it expires), you are legal to use it !

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maddie-madison t1_j9xcezn wrote

This definitely depends where you live =p where I'm at you can't have them expire.

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Calm-asutra t1_j9xjj9n wrote

Oh didn't know that... Where i live it has like 1-2 year expiry date...even more sometimes but there is one for sure.

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maddie-madison t1_j9xjshf wrote

Its great cause I got some to the movie theater just before covid and just haven't gotten around to using them since they opened back up.

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resjudicata1 OP t1_j9x99s8 wrote

Any source to this legality?

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Calm-asutra t1_j9xa945 wrote

Lol just an unwritten rule. Plus it's your money. Morally you've given it to them but if like 15 bucks are remaining in the card and it's gonna get expired... I don't think it's anyone's loss if you use it.. That's why i said just before it gets expired

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cyberdeath666 t1_ja0lape wrote

I couldn’t care less what you get with your gift card. I got you a gift card because I literally don’t care what you get. There should be ZERO strings attached to gift giving, otherwise it’s not a gift, it’s you wanting to feel better about yourself for “giving” someone something. That’s like expecting to be thanked for donating money to charity. Do it because it’s good, not because you need a pat on the back. If someone does thank you, then that’s great, but expecting a thank you, or a list of what they bought with their gift card, is narcissistic and intrusive. This is a stupid “LPT” and it sounds like OP needs validation for gifts they get people or for receiving gifts. No thanks.

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phoenixhourglass t1_ja0whja wrote

I made a point of doing that once, and my grandma laughed at me for it. So yeah, never again.

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schwifty38 t1_ja0wu4j wrote

"Thanks for letting me know u don't give a shit about me by buying me a gift card. I'm gonna use it to buy you a gift card for your birthday. "

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